would anyone be interested in a ventrilo server?

I'm an officer in a MechWarrior4 unit. We use Vent all the time for communications. I think if there was a free way to do this it would be good for consulting and other activites.

I think mostly with these bikes that forums are speedy enough for most but if there was a free option then I would use it.

Skype? Is that free?

I've had an active Skype account for more years than I care to remember lol, however I will say any live "chat" is fought with it's own problems - so much so some forums won't even consider a live text chat due to the issues it raises. We've had little problem with ours (thanks entirely to our exemplary memberbase), but there's the fact that any "chat" reduces the amount of permanent contributions to the forum itself - instead of posting observations, thoughts and concerns on the boards to be shared & searchable by all, they become transient with excellent potential lost, the more members that participate in the chats over the boards themselves, the more detrimental to the overall forum it becomes. Sadly, I've borne first hand witness to this on more than one occasion.

However - there is a problem with this: "and make some of it back with a donations thing in my sig with out it being a problem" as any solicitation for donations for any reason is expressly forbidden as defined in our rules: http://motorbicycling.com/f21/please-read-these-simple-rules-2.html#post205323... while I respect and appreciate the fact you're only offering your thoughts on how to make it work, not only is solicitation a rule infraction - were we actually to adopt a VOIP, not only would it need to be entirely free as we don't even ask for donations to support this forum, but it would have to be hosted and staffed by motorbicycling.com on our server for the protection of our memberbase.

I'm by no means discouraging the utilization of any live conversation between members, far from it - it's an excellent means of getting to know one another and enjoying the things we've in common, we even include such potential on the 'Profile Page' where you can offer your contact information regarding "Instant Messaging" which ofc includes VOIP... but I seriously doubt this forum will ever adopt an "official" motorbicycling.com live conference call, no matter the format.